Mammoth bike ride

05 July 2009

CYCLISTS from Weston are gearing up for a mammoth bike ride to Scotland.

The pedal pushers, including a 70-year-old with a pacemaker, will take on the 933 mile trip from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for charity.

More than 30 members of The Weston Chain Gang have been training for the ride during the past 12 months.

Cyclist Malcolm Gammon, aged 53, from Bleadon, said: "We started planning the event about a year ago and decided we should do something worthwhile for others as well as doing it for ourselves, which is why we are raising money for Weston Hospicecare and CLIC Sargent."

A variety of people will take part in the two week cycling marathon including six women and 25 men whose ages range from 41 to 70.

The group will officially set off on Saturday riding three tandems and 26 solo bikes between them.

For many of the cyclists it will be the first time they have attempted riding from one end of Britain to the other.

Weston Chain Gang is a community group who meet informally every Saturday morning for a cycle ride.

The ride has been organised and funded by the cyclists themselves with vehicle support from The Window Merchants.

The cyclists hope to raise thousands for Weston Hospicecare, which provides free palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses and support to their families in North Somerset and neighbouring parts of Somerset.

The fundraising got off to a great start with a donation from Monaghan Foods of £1,000 to two of the cyclists in the group who work for the company.

The group will be leaving Weston on July 3 and will be travelling by coach to Land's End in Cornwall.

They will spend every night under canvas as they are staying at campsites along the way.

To sponsor the Weston Chain Gang call Malcolm Gammon on 07807 381 820.

To find out more about Weston Hospicecare call the hospice's fundraising team on 01934 423960 or log on to www.westonhospicecare.org.uk